“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).

“Ugh!!! This day was grueling.”
“It was a battle all day long.”
“I almost quit today.”
“I lost my will to fight…I gave into temptation…I may have lost today, but God’s not done with me…I will keep fighting on.”

How come we don’t see posts like that on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, TikTok?

Social media is not helping Christians. It paints a false picture of mostly joy and happiness. It’s so easy to post cute memes and passages of hope, of everything working out. But that’s not reflective of life.

In reality, much of life on this side of eternity is a constant battle.

• Jesus tells us, “I have told you these tings, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
• The Apostle Paul wrote, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worthy comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
• The writer of 1 Peter reminds us, “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

Most of life is spiritual warfare, constantly being tempted and tested. It is rigorous training to beat our bodies into submission to the will of Christ.

It is a constant struggle. But it is all worth it. Because we were created for eternity. This world is preparing the saints for eternal life.

One of the problems with modern day Christianity is that it is being shaped and informed more by social media posts than the truths of scripture.

So keep reading. Keep your eyes on Christ. Stay in God’s word.

“Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction” (Psalm 1:4-6).

After telling us what the blessed and happy person is like, the psalmist closes out the psalm by describing what the wicked are like.

The wicked:

• The wicked are like chaff which the wind blows away
• The wicked will not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous
• The LORD watches the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction

The wicked are like chaff which the wind blows away. The psalmist pictures a farmer who is gleaning wheat. The farmer gathers the wheat which is covered by a exterior skin that cannot be eaten. So the farmer throws the wheat grains into the air where the chaff is separated from the grain of wheat. The chaff is so light it floats in the air. The chaff is blown about by the wind.

Unlike the blessed and happy person who lay their roots deep into God’s word to withstand the storms and rapids, the wicked are like the chaff which is blown about by the winds and whims of the culture. Deeply rooted vs blown about by the whims of the culture.

Because the wicked are not rooted in God’s word and God’s truth, they will not stand in judgment nor in the assembly of the righteous. They will be judged and there will be no place for them in the presence of God.

God will watch over the way of the righteous but the wicked will be separated and sent away from the presence of God into Sheol or hell.

Many wonder what hell is. One of the best descriptions of hell is that hell is the place where God’s grace and mercy are absent. In hell, the only thing the wicked will receive from God is his judgment and wrath because grace and mercy will be absent.

Blessed. Wicked.

God has shown us clearly what he wants is for us to be blessed. Because he wants us to be blessed he has shown us how to live the blessed and happy life. Get rooted in the word of God.

“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:3).

What does the blessed and happy person look like? God gives us a word picture. God tells us that the blessed and happy person is “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.”

Wow! Look at that last phrase – “whatever they do prospers!!!”

I want that.

God tells us how. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water. If you’re thinking of a gentle stream in a meadow, you’re not alone. If you’re thinking that, you’re kinda right. But the water that the psalmist envisions are the streams of the Jordan or the dessert. During the dry season, the Jordan River is a placid stream. But during the rainy season, the Jordan turns into a roaring rapid. The tree that the psalmist is talking about is trees planted near those waters.

Trees planted near those streams in Israel have their roots deeply planted in the ground. Because when the gentle stream turns into a rapid, any tree that is not deeply rooted gets carried down the river into the Dead Sea. They have discovered that the trees along the Jordan River are as deep in their roots, as they are tall.

The blessed and happy person is one who deeply roots and plants themselves in the word of God.

When they are planted and deeply rooted in the word of God, they yield their fruits in their season and their leaf does not wither. In fact, those who are deeply rooted in God’s word – whatever they do prospers.

The key is the word of God.

So, are you deeply rooted in God’s word? These verses of the day are a fantastic start!